Konaseema Collector Escapes Mishap During Dragon Boat Race Trial
A trail run of the boat race had been arranged on the day.
Kakinada: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district collector R. Mahesh Kumar avoided a major accident while riding a boat in the Main Canal at Lolla Locks in Atreyapuram mandal of Konaseema district.
Sir Arthur Cotton Konaseema Utsav and Sankranthi Sambaralu are to be held from January 11 to January 13 in Konaseema district, of which dragon boat races are a part. On Friday, officials, including the collector Mahesh Kumar, Kothapeta MLA Bandaru Satyananda Rao and Konaseema superintendent of police Rahul Meena came to Atreyapuram to supervise arrangements for the celebrations.
A trail run of the boat race had been arranged on the day. The collector boarded a boat along with two swimmers. A sudden disturbance occurred while Mahesh Kumar had been rowing the boat and he fell into the canal. However, he swam up, and the two swimmers pulled him back into the boat.
Later, the collector, MLA Satyananda Rao and SP Rahul Meena said 27 teams from across the country will participate in the dragon boat race near the Lolla Locks, for which all arrangements are being made at Pulidindi village in the Atreyapuram mandal.
Mahesh Kumar said the boating is part of the Sankranthi Sambaralu. Various teams will compete for the Sir Arthur Cotton Godavari Dragon Boat Race Trophy. There will also be swimming, rangoli and kite-flying competitions.
The collector instructed organisers to ensure all safety arrangements like life jackets, rescue boats, medical aid facilities and viewpoints for spectators.
MLA Satyananda Rao expressed confidence that the Main Canal from Bobbar Lanka to Lolla Locks will become a tourist hub soon.
Others present on the occasion included additional superintendent of police P. Srikar, DSP S. Murali Mohan, district tourism officer Anwar and Atreyapuram tahsildar R. Ramachandra Murthy.
